Liz Louize

This post is sponsored by Liz Louize, and is a part of monthly series, Last Minute Shopping with Liz Louize. For more about the boutique go HERE, HERE and HERE.

First of all, how is Christmas one week away!

In todays post I am sharing an easy outfit combo that is a go to for me when I need to put an outfit together in a hurry. The formula is simple, a dressed up knit, skinnies, over the knee boots and some BIG earrings. During the holidays I reach for knits that have a little sparkle in them, I love adding a little holiday glam to my casual wardrobe.

I picked up this knit at Liz Louize on my last trip to the store, this top is from the Full Figured Fashionista line and currently in STOCK at Liz Louize! The boutique have a couple of different pieces from this line, while in store the associates were telling me that this brand was created for the plus figure, and that each piece is thoughtfully made for the curvy babe.

This garment photographed black and brown, but really the metallic thread is more of a gold color. The color blocking on this piece is meant to draw the eye to the smallest part of the waist, a universally flattering style that is pleasing to the eye and a definite confidence boost. I love the sleeve length(extra long and cozy), AND this top covers the front and back so its perfect for leggings!! The first time I styled this top, it was with leggings and booties I was so comfy all day. I plan on keeping this top in my regular rotation this winter, its just too comfortable to get pushed to the back of my closet.

Where are my last minute shoppers at? The window is quickly closing on shipping dates, and if you happen to have a husband(like mine) that prefers to wait until 3 days before Christmas to do his shopping then you need a trusted boutique that you can send him off too! The girls at Liz Louize have everything a last minute shopper needs to excite the curvy babe in your life! I share my Liz Louize finds on Curls and Contours all the time, and so many of the pieces that I have shared recently are still in stock. From the Joseph Ribkoff OTS top to the super fun tee I just shared on Instagram. These pieces show the variety the store offers, if you have something in mind as a gift or something you want CALL the store and they can help you!

This week on the blog I am teaming up with Liz Louize to share how a trendy statement piece can dress up items you already own! I love being able to add things to my closet that will easily mix and match with my “old stuff” lol. To me this is just practical dressing and an integral part of my fashion personality. I scooped up this velvet and sequin bomber jacket the last time I was in Liz Louize, I knew it would be perfect for the holidays and would mix and match well with other pieces in my closet. The silhouette of this piece lends a very casual vibe, but the fabric and sequin sleeve kick things up a notch. Versatile pieces like this are great to have in your closet, and in my opinion if you can shop them from a boutique with a curated inventory you will be getting the most bang for your buck.

Obviously, if you have been following me for awhile then you KNOWWWW I love black dresses so my first thought was to style this jacket with a black dress. I pulled this one out of my closet and bada bing I had myself a brand new outfit. Liz Louize has quickly become my go to place for statement piece shopping, and luckily for me the store is in the area BUT if you aren’t local they have an online store TOO!

This jacket falls into the bomber category, it features black sequins on the arms and a quilted velvet across the front and back. I found that this piece fit true to size, I am wearing a 1. I will be styling this jacket again for a date night out, and I plan on pairing it with distressed denim and a black t-shirt for a casual look.

Style tip- Its easy to work in a flashy sequin piece when you go matchy matchy. If you have a sequin piece in mind that you like to style but aren’t sure about making a “statement” try pairing it with something that is the same color! I love black so I am always pairing statement pieces with dark shades, but this tip works great for any color!

Liz Louize has so many new arrivals AND you can shop them now online! If you are in need of a holiday look, or even a gift for the curvy babe in your life. You need to check out this store! I follow them on Facebook for up to date info on specials and discounts! I have found that keeping up with my favorite boutiques on social media is a great way to keep an eye on their inventory and know about current sales. You can check out the Liz Louize FacebookHERE.

When was the last time you slipped into a smart, structured dress and went off to work? I found myself contemplating this, as a plus size person why are my only options flowy and wide leg pants when I am looking to dress professional? This week on the blog I am so pleased to share three smart structured dresses perfect for your next professional outing.

In my last Liz Louize post I shared the benefits of boutique shopping(you can find that post HERE). On my visit to Liz Louize I got to chatting with the owners of the boutique(Hey Amy and Amanda!) about quality professional outfits for the plus size woman. We all felt that curvy babes in the workplace miss out on the variety of options their regular size counterparts have access to. Liz Louize happens to keep a variety of unique work ready options in stock!

It always seems to be the same outfit formula for plus size ladies- wide leg slacks, flowy top, and some sort of blazer or cardigan. And don’t get me wrong this is cute and easy, but the variety is missing. So today on the blog I am sharing my three favorite work ready dresses from Liz Louize. Lets break out of that mold and try something different!

This dress is a thick knit fabric that has a good amount of stretch. I wanted to share this dress specifically because of the fit, its so comfortable but looks so put together. The belt comes with the dress and really adds some shape and interest to the dress. I opted to pair this garment with a simple black cardigan to add an extra layer of warmth. I would love to style this dress with black tights and a blazer for a cool weather look.

I picked this piece out immediately while shopping around Liz Louize, I love the classic color and details on this dress. This garment felt perfectly tailored for a day at work and then with a simple change of accessories an evening out. I would style this with a blazer and pumps for the office, and then a leather jacket and some over the knee boots for after work drinks with the girls. When we shot this look, I joked that this dress had a definite “Jackie O” feel all I need is a pillbox hat, some gloves and black sunglasses to complete the look!

The last dress that I styled from Liz Louize is this black and white shimmer sheath dress. I grabbed up a red blazer to add some color, and I think it really makes the whole look pop. The red blazer lends this look a holiday feel, swapping out the red for a black topper would keep this firmly in the “It’s October not December” lane.

What do you like to wear to work? Are you a slacks and blouse girl or a dress girl?

As a plus size person, I used to be an outsider in fancy little boutiques that dot downtown areas across America. I would go in with the attitude that everything was going to be too small, and therefore irrelevant to me. I was so used to shopping in big chain stores that I didn’t know what I was missing out on.

It wasn’t until I was able to start shopping at boutiques that carried clothes in my size, did I realize how much a boutique shopping experience can benefit you. When shopping in a locally owned store you are able to really get to know the products because the sales staff will be much more knowledgeable about the clothing in the store. This can be for a couple of reasons, less inventory(which is not a bad thing) and likely the person helping you pick an item or style a look had a hand in that item coming to the store. A true boutique shopping experience is born out of customer service and the consumer(thats you and me) being able to connect with the product being sold.

Boutiques are what the owner makes it, and most shops are started because of a passion for whatever is being sold in the store. Thats what makes it so fun, each store is a reflection of the woman that loved fashion enough to start a business, maybe she loves vintage inspired pieces and wants to share them with you. Or maybe she loves denim and wants her customer to be able to experience quality jeans.

Whatever the reason, shopping a boutique that specializes in a niche that you love is a special experience. You will be able to find unique pieces, get help from a sales associate that truly knows the products, and support a local business that is likely owned by a female entrepreneur(girl power!).

If you have been following me for awhile then you know that I am a shopper. And being a plus size woman, most of my shopping consists of ordering from online retailers. And don’t get me wrong I love my online shops, but when it comes to buying statement pieces sometimes you need to try it on first, so you can adjust sizes, see if it will fit the way you think etc…

One of my go to boutiques in the Detroit area is Liz Louize, this is a plus size boutique with a special talent for keeping quality statement pieces in stock. Remember that blog post I wrote about how I always find the best pieces right before we leave? Yeeeahhh this was one of those skirts. I found this 20 dollar beauty on my way to the checkout lane, LOL. Pleats, and lace, ANNNDDDDD its black my favorite color! I wanted to style it in an elevated chic way, so I paired this lingerie-esque skirt with a velvet top and my favorite leopard clutch.

On my last trip to the store I found a Joseph Ribkoff top that I couldn’t resist, I love the soft white top with lace statement sleeves. This piece is so feminine, I styled it with a pair of black strappy heels and some ripped Good American jeans. I wanted to balance the feminine top with some edgier jeans and my favorite Target heels.

I never would have ordered these pieces from an online store, I would have passed right by both. But being able to shop in a boutique and feel the fabrics and see the drama these pieces bring firsthand had me purchasing both.

Hey babe, welcome to Curls and Contours. This is the blog for the curvy girl that wants it all, thats me and if you are here then that is you too! In this space you will find lots of glam, lots of black dresses(I have a love affair with black dresses), and lots of inspiration.